Saturday 24 August 2019

Osada Steve and Sophie Alice workshop chez Esinem

A dazzling afternoon in a bountiful south-east London garden: hen and chicks, raspberries, apples, redcurrants, tomatoes, aubergines, peas, plums... But we plunge indoors for a shibari workshop.

While the tropical fish look on, Osada Steve takes charge. His route to shibari was martial arts so he gives thought to self-protection and connection with the model: 'If you do it like this she can punch you in the face. Sophie, can you feel my heart beat?'

He dismisses 'power stuff, idiot stuff'. 'We are not in the jerking off business. We are trying to give her a good time.'

The picture you make is all-important. 'As a rigger you have a responsibility to put her into beautiful poses.' And let her 'deep-dive into sub space.'